UK inflation eased to 3.1% in July from 3.2% in June. However the overall Consumer Price Index (CPI) is still well above the Bank of England’s own 2% target. The Retail Price Index (RPI) is commonly used to measure the cost of living and figures released from the Office for National Statistics also showed that the RPI slightly slowed to 4.8% from 5% in June. Even though it is lower, it still outweighs any percentage pay rises companies may be giving out.

This continued high level of UK inflation has been partially blamed on the return of VAT to 17.5%, higher import prices because of the downturn of the pound, and the price of oil. So with the recent Gulf of Mexico oil spill, who knows what further knock-on effect that will have? The scales in the world finance continue to have their ups and downs.

Whist clothing, footwear, furniture and household goods costs have dropped, food costs have risen. Grain, a fundamental food, in particular is soaring in price. This is because Russia, one of the world’s biggest producers of wheat, barley and rye has suffered one of the worst droughts in recent years. With their grain harvest down, Russia has imposed a ban on their grain exports, which means here in the UK we will see an inevitable rise in bread prices. Even the cost of healthy living is increasing, with prices of fruit and vegetables growing by the month!

So what can consumers do to keep both their bank balances and themselves out of the red? Grow your own fruit and vegetables. It worked in the war, where they ‘dug for victory’ and today becoming ‘self sufficient’ is becoming a thriving success too! More and more people are turning their flowerbeds into vegetable patches.

Just take a few packets of seeds and add some basic gardening skills and some water. You can grow lines of lettuces, radish and other salad essentials that will see you through the summer. You can cultivate winter vegetables and even enhance all your favourite dishes with a few simple herbs. Just think how much money you could save at the supermarket!

You don’t even need a big garden as you can grow potatoes in bags, salad leaves in tubs and herbs in baskets. Or you could rent an allotment. Before you know it you’ll be making your own jam, from hedgerow berries, home brewing wine from surplus parsnips and plums, and swapping the cat for a few chickens!

Getting back to basics can really help you save money, and help keep you and your bank balance healthy too, besides have you seen the price they charge for organic produce!! Growing your own food, could mean fewer trips to the shops, which in turn will cut travel costs and they’ll be no waste packaging either, all of which in turn can help lower your carbon footprint! So why not deflate your cost of living, by growing some of your own produce-now, there’s food for thought!

Author Bio: Sarah McCormack has been growing her own vegetables for years when she isn’t shopping for cute, personalised gifts for all her friends.

Category: Finances
Keywords: economy,finances,gardening,vegetables,sustainable